Lusine H. Aramyan and Marijke Kuiper
The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual overview of the price transmissions within agri‐food supply chains. Analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual overview of the price transmissions within agri‐food supply chains. Analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains is essential since imperfect price transition may result in market power. This is an important issue that needs attention, given that the structure of agri‐food retail in Europe, USA and Canada is experiencing rapid change towards retail power.
Design/methodology/approach
The conceptual overview draws on a review of different approaches in analyzing transmission of prices through an agri‐food supply chain based on supply chain analysis and price transmission studies.
Findings
Three key challenges are identified in analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains: structure of the supply chain; factors affecting price transmission; and supply response.
Originality/value
This paper presents a novel concept in analyzing price transmission in agri‐food supply chains using price transmission literature and bi‐directional flows of information and products in agri‐food supply chains
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Tina Sendlhofer and Fedra Vanhuyse
This study explores the use of digital tools to support the sharing of sustainability information in the transition towards sustainable supply chain management in food supply…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the use of digital tools to support the sharing of sustainability information in the transition towards sustainable supply chain management in food supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative study reports on a Swedish food supply network, consisting of interviews with retailers/restaurants, wholesalers, and farmers/processors. By applying the analytical lens of responsibilisation, the abductive study reveals the complexities and barriers in transitioning to a sustainable food industry with the help of digital tools.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that perceived responsibility for corporate sustainability was limited to the national legislative framework. This limitation is evidence of an evaded regime of responsibilisation across supply chain actors. Additionally, the use of digital tools to support sustainability information sharing was largely absent in strategic orientations. This selective or withheld sustainability information translated into a gatekeeping mechanism that potentially hinders collective efforts to achieve sustainability.
Practical implications
The findings indicate that Swedish food actors are currently in a waiting position regarding the use of digital tools to promote sustainability information sharing. More specifically, industry actors perceive the need for an updated regulatory sustainability framework that supports a faster, digitally supported transition towards a sustainable food industry. Policymakers should be more proactive to incentivise industry actors to develop and adopt digital tools promoting corporate sustainability.
Originality/value
Responding to the call for more research into the empirical reality of supply chain actors and their approaches towards digitalisation and sustainability, this study bridges the gap between conceptual studies and practice. Furthermore, this study refines the theory of responsibilisation by shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of sharing sustainability information within a food supply network. It suggests that there exists an evaded regime of responsibilisation whereby governmental agencies are assigned the greatest responsibility to drive corporate sustainability, and, in the absence of such regulatory requirements, the sharing of sustainability information is limited.
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Foivos Anastasiadis, Ioanna Apostolidou and Naoum Tsolakis
Traceability systems (TS) have enabled significant improvements in supply chain management. Despite these advancements, there is room for further enhancement in the acceptance and…
Abstract
Purpose
Traceability systems (TS) have enabled significant improvements in supply chain management. Despite these advancements, there is room for further enhancement in the acceptance and diffusion of TS among stakeholders in emergent agri-food supply chains. Conducting a strategic analysis of TS is crucial to reveal the associated challenges, opportunities, pros and cons. Doing so will foster the development of emergent agri-food supply chains and unlock their potential.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a modified quantitative four-round Delphi methodology among experts, selected according to the quadruple helix model, covering end-to-end the supply chain. The research was carried out in Greece, as its agri-food sector epitomizes the type of emergent supply chain under investigation.
Findings
This study reveals the impact of TS in emergent agri-food industries, emphasizing the firm-focused positive effects like improving their supply chain performance. The research also highlights the benefits of TS adoption, suggesting that they outweigh any drawbacks based on the TS internal-external environment analysis. The multi-stakeholder participatory approach resulted in a blend of well-informed policy-making recommendations and managerial insights, paving the way for a broader and more efficient TS adoption in emergent agri-food supply chains.
Research limitations/implications
Impediments on sampling require caution when extending these findings to other contexts. Yet, it is crucial to conduct further research using a similar approach in a broader area, not just limited to Greece but also in other economies with similar conditions characterized by nascent supply chains.
Originality/value
The comprehensive and holistic approach used in this study, examining the extended supply chain context instead of just dyads, offers valuable insights that contribute to theory development in supply chain management. Such an output is momentous when researching emergent supply chains and complex issues like traceability, which require information sharing and involve interdependencies and hidden dynamics among stakeholders that are impossible to explore otherwise.
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Ahmed Mohammed, Mohammed Al Balushi and Nasiru Zubairu
This study investigates food waste within the food supply chain (FSC), for the case of fresh and short FSC (FS-FSC), aiming to (1) reveal the major causes of waste across FSC (2…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates food waste within the food supply chain (FSC), for the case of fresh and short FSC (FS-FSC), aiming to (1) reveal the major causes of waste across FSC (2) identify the food waste mitigation strategies, (3) measure food waste impacts at each supply stream, and (4) propose practical initiatives to support decision/policymakers in strategic food waste management, especially in the case country.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a mixed-method approach to investigating food waste, examining existing literature using template analysis. The focus is on three key elements: factors enabling food waste, its final destinations, and strategies to reduce it. The study then gathers information from a prominent regional retailer and consumers through interviews and surveys. The empirical data collected is then analysed using template analysis and descriptive statistics.
Findings
This research highlights key waste enablers across the food supply chain networks, including procurement and storage, processing, operation strategy, people, and consumers. The enablers differed in the amount of food waste produced, and the research outcome demonstrates that the end consumers were the largest contributors to the food waste generated. The changes in people's habits and tastes significantly affect the FS-FSC. Interestingly, results demonstrated that 40% of consumers utilise food leftovers as pet food.
Practical implications
The proposed food waste management initiatives can help companies minimise and mitigate food waste at each supply chain stage. Practitioners can use the identified causes and mitigation strategies to implement mitigation efforts and translate them into actionable plans.
Originality/value
The article outlines a practical approach for addressing food waste in an FS-FSC case throughout the entire chain, encompassing supply, distribution, catering, delivery, and consumption. The study not only sheds light on the primary reasons for food wastage but also provides insights into potential solutions that are not only effective but also feasible in real-world scenarios.
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Ahmed Zainul Abideen Muzamil, Jaafar Pyeman, Sofianita binti Mutalib, Kamalia Azma binti Kamaruddin and Norsariah binti Abdul Rahman
Supply chain disruptions are a significant risk to businesses in a global marketplace because they make it more challenging for suppliers to effectively transport goods and…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain disruptions are a significant risk to businesses in a global marketplace because they make it more challenging for suppliers to effectively transport goods and services to customers. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend how these disruptions affect the retail food supply chain during pandemics and explore how digitalization might help to mitigate these issues in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
A hybrid systematic review and analysis was conducted by retrieving data set from the scopus database using strong keyword search strategy. Later a content analysis was also done to gain more insights on the proposed research.
Findings
The results show that there are several possibilities enabling optimal scenario planning supply chain disruptions and mitigation. In this area, digitalization improves customer satisfaction and logistical efficiency, particularly in transportation and network optimization. In order to cope with uncertainty and grasp significant enhancements proactive strategies and collaboration that are guided by scenario planning and digitalization assist in developing robust supply chains that are sufficiently adaptable to adapt to shifting market conditions.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to research papers indexed in Scopus from 2015 to 2023 with a more comprehensive review of retail food supply chain disruptions.
Practical implications
This research provides practical insights for retail food supply chain managers, highlighting the importance of digital maturity and scenario planning by leveraging digital tools and proactive strategies to improve logistical efficiency.
Social implications
This study helps in building resilient supply chains ensures the reliable availability, and food security of essential goods, particularly during crises.
Originality/value
This research uniquely links digitalization and scenario planning to managing supply chain disruptions, highlighting how digital tools and strategic planning enhance resilience and adaptability in the retail food supply chain.
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Vimal Kumar, Pratima Verma, Bhavin Shah and Vikas Kumar
Short food supply chains (SFSCs) have been extensively researched for their environmental and economic implications. However, these are now confronted with shortcomings such as…
Abstract
Purpose
Short food supply chains (SFSCs) have been extensively researched for their environmental and economic implications. However, these are now confronted with shortcomings such as supply chain resilience (SLR) and societal livelihood (SL) hindering growth. The purpose of this study is to revisit and critically analyze existing SFSC literature, with a focus on SLR, SL, sustainability and human-centricity elements, to propose redesigning attributes for SFSCs in the era of Industry 5.0.
Design/methodology/approach
The systematic review scope is confined to the SFSC domain with an analysis of contemporary articles published in the British Food Journal (BFJ). The meta-data and research papers are sourced from the Scopus database and the VOSviewer software is used for the analysis. The thematic, diversified geographies and method-wise investigation bring theoretical insights toward building sustainable and resilient SFSCs.
Findings
The study findings could serve as a fitting theoretical framework to redesign the SFSCs for resiliency, sustainability and societal aspects of the economy, environment and human livelihood, respectively. The results also discuss the prior accomplishments and elaborate on avenues for future research.
Research limitations/implications
Emphasizing recent trends, challenges, policy design, conceptual framework and future research directions for the SFSC domain, considering SLR and SL, has extended the literature in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Practical implications
This study offers comprehensive guidelines to the concerned stakeholders for redesigning the SFSCs by linking sustainability, resilience and societal livelihood dimensions.
Originality/value
The study derives comprehensive insights into how redesigning SFSCs has contributed to more sustainable and resilient food systems worldwide over 2 decades. It extends the BFJ’s literature body by establishing the linkages between SLR and SL concerning human-centric SFSC.
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M. Yuvaraj, R. Jothi Basu, B.V. Prabhu, Satish Babu Boppana and C. Ganesh Kumar
The four pillars of food security are availability, accessibility, utilization and stability. In order to facilitate food security, an attempt is made to design a fruit supply…
Abstract
Purpose
The four pillars of food security are availability, accessibility, utilization and stability. In order to facilitate food security, an attempt is made to design a fruit supply chain network (FSCN) considering multi-compartment reefer trucks (MCRT) to reduce total supply chain costs. This in turn increases affordability, decreases food loss and increases availability, which further helps in improving food security.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed integer non-linear programming (MNILP) model is developed to minimize the overall cost considering MCRT and the same is solved by a heuristic approach. A real-world case study is conducted to test the robustness of the model.
Findings
There is a considerable cost saving with the new proposed model (MCRT). The number of trucks used is drastically reduced when the dedicated truck is replaced with MCRT. Overall, the design of the FSCN not only improves food security by lowering the total supply chain cost but also shows a high impact on sustainability. Since the proposed model is a mathematical formulation, the same model can be applied to other perishable commodities like vegetables.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed FSCN still requires more intermediaries to be added for more practicality. The model will be suitable for emerging markets mainly because the food supply chain sector is not completely organized.
Originality/value
This study is one of the initial studies in the context of facility location and FSCN optimization, specifically focusing on the inclusion of capacitated DCs. This study has the potential to assist supply chain managers in achieving sustainability by optimizing location decisions, inventory levels and movement between facilities. This study provides a valuable contribution towards the sustainable development goal of zero hunger (food security) by increasing affordability for low-income people.
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Hana Catur Wahyuni, Iwan Vanany, Ivan Gunawan and Julius Mulyono
By exploring the halalness and food safety risks from the perspective of technology and the relationship among them, this study aims to make quantitative predictions of such risks…
Abstract
Purpose
By exploring the halalness and food safety risks from the perspective of technology and the relationship among them, this study aims to make quantitative predictions of such risks in the broiler supply chain to determine the critical control points (CCPs) in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
Design/methodology/approach
This study integrates Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Bayesian Network (BN) to achieve the objectives. Data were collected from focus group discussions (FGDs) with experts and direct observations at the broiler supply chain.
Findings
This paper identified 19 risks in the Indonesian broiler supply chain. The risk for halalness and food safety reached 30.92%, indicating that assuring halalness and food safety remains improbable or unlikely. The two CCPs of halalness and food safety are the knife’s sharpness and the vehicle’s storage temperature.
Research limitations/implications
This study quantifies the halalness and food safety risks in the Indonesian broiler supply chain, but it only involves one step forward and one step backward in the slaughterhouse’s chain.
Practical implications
The findings can provide insights for stakeholders, such as business owners, employees, management system auditors and consumers, regarding the critical control points of halalness and food safety in the broiler supply chain to improve the halalness and food safety management systems.
Originality/value
This study’s novelty lies in the examination of halalness and food safety risks using a risk prediction model to determine CCPs for the HACCP plan in the broiler supply chain in Indonesia.
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Narassima Madhavarao Seshadri, Anbuudayasankar Singanallur Palanisamy, Thenarasu Mohanavelu and Olivia McDermott
Globalization and population explosion have worsened postharvest losses (PHL) in developing countries. This study looks to identify numerous controllable variables to reduce these…
Abstract
Purpose
Globalization and population explosion have worsened postharvest losses (PHL) in developing countries. This study looks to identify numerous controllable variables to reduce these losses and make the fresh produce supply chain more efficient.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique to develop a hierarchical model to comprehend the intricate relationships between the variables influencing PHL. These variables are further classified based on the relative levels of importance in terms of their driving and dependence powers.
Findings
The findings of this research provide variables for enterprises operating in fresh food supply chains to understand the specific risks that that supply chain faces and how these risks interact within the system. The fuzzy MICMAC analysis also classifies and highlights critical risk factors in the supply chain to aid implementation of PHL mitigation measures. The study highlights the importance of devising policies, legislation and efforts to regulate and curtail PHL across the global food supply chain.
Research limitations/implications
The efficiency of the food supply chain contributes not only to economic sustainability but also to broader goals such as food security, better utilisation of global resources and sustainability in the supply chain.
Social implications
It also highlights the significance of well-informed government policies, laws and regulations in successfully controlling and reducing PHL.
Originality/value
This study compares factors contributing to PHL in the fresh produce supply chain and emphasises the stakeholders’ critical role in alleviating these losses. It also highlights the significance of well-informed government policies, laws and regulations in successfully controlling and reducing PHL.
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Mohammad Haider, Ashok Kumar Jha, Rakesh Raut, Mukesh Kumar and Sudishna Ghoshal
The short/fast-food and perishable food supply chains (PFSC) have similar characteristics of lower lifespan and variable demand, leading to significant waste. However, the global…
Abstract
Purpose
The short/fast-food and perishable food supply chains (PFSC) have similar characteristics of lower lifespan and variable demand, leading to significant waste. However, the global population surge and increased health awareness make it impossible to continue wasting food because it is responsible for the loss of economy, resources, and biodiversity. A sustainable transition in short and PFSC is necessary; thus, addressing challenges is critical to explore the best strategy for redesigning PFSC.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review helped to identify 40 challenges, while a Delphi study highlighted 21 critical challenges. The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method establishes a causal relationship between sustainable development (SD) challenges to help redesign PFSC.
Findings
From a strategic development perspective, frequent transportation disruption is the main critical challenge. Lack of supplier reliability is the most substantial cause of independence, with a causal value of 2.878. Overhead costs and lack of green maintenance strategies are part of the performance-oriented challenges. As it belongs to the driving zone, the second quadrant requires control while transforming PFSC for better sustainable development.
Practical implications
The study has several implications, such as lack of supplier reliability and frequent transportation disruption, which have the most robust causal value used as short-term strategy development. For short- and fast-food supply chains, it is necessary to study market and consumer behavior patterns to optimize inventory and customer service. Combating transportation disruption and supplier reliability challenges is vital in both PFSC and short and fast-food supply chains to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Originality/value
The study’s findings are unique and put value toward the sustainable transition of PFSC by revealing critical challenges and their impact.